Upon finishing a rap, my screwgate got completely locked and stuck. I heard that weighing it helps so I tried that but that didn't work. Used a small wrench to twist it open again.

I locked the carabiner BEFORE I put weight on it so I don't understand why it got stuck. Also, not sure what to do with this carabiner now...feels like with little effort I can get it locked and stuck again.

It's a BD vaporlock screwgate used only for belaying and rappelling. It's practically brand new (used 1-2 times a week for about a year) so I definitely would want to get more mileage out of it.

Upon finishing a rap, my screwgate got completely locked and stuck. I heard that weighing it helps so I tried that but that didn't work. Used a small wrench to twist it open again.

I locked the carabiner BEFORE I put weight on it so I don't understand why it got stuck. Also, not sure what to do with this carabiner now...feels like with little effort I can get it locked and stuck again.

It's a BD vaporlock screwgate used only for belaying and rappelling. It's practically brand new (used 1-2 times a week for about a year) so I definitely would want to get more mileage out of it.

Any thoughts?

1. Toss the biner into the random dead gear box that will slowly fill with time. It's just not worth the hassle. Don't worry about wanting to "get more mileage out of it" or the cost of the biner - you've already spent far more on beer that the cost of that biner over the past year. 2. Stop buying screwgates - this is a classic problem of that 60 year old design. Get one of the modern auto-locking biners.

Upon finishing a rap, my screwgate got completely locked and stuck. I heard that weighing it helps so I tried that but that didn't work. Used a small wrench to twist it open again.

I locked the carabiner BEFORE I put weight on it so I don't understand why it got stuck. Also, not sure what to do with this carabiner now...feels like with little effort I can get it locked and stuck again.

It's a BD vaporlock screwgate used only for belaying and rappelling. It's practically brand new (used 1-2 times a week for about a year) so I definitely would want to get more mileage out of it.

Any thoughts?

I have this happen from time to time with my ATC biner. It is a simond chamonix jumbo HMS and it is the only biner that does that. The threads on the gate are basically just bottoming out on the locking ring.

Either stop using it for your belay biner and for something a little less important or practice getting it stuck a few times and get really good at freeing it up. Mine gets hung up on me but I can get it unstuck very quickly.

I've also seen people REEF on their locking biner. The point of the screwlock is to keep the gate from opening, not from holding the force of a fall. Lightly finger-tight should be adequate.

I'm open to my belay 'biner being an auto-locker, but I've seen to many instances of the auto-locking mechanism jam. Or try using it with cold wet fingers as you're rappelling a multi-pitch route in a storm. All of my lockers are screwgates, and I've only had one locker - in 20 years - that's bottomed out like that described above.

Spend the extra buck or two and get a locker that bottoms on its thread not against the biner nose.

I thought mine bottomed out on the nose at first but bottoms out on the threads. When the screw gate siezes up the gate can still move back and forth on the nose end.

My favorite belay biner that i use for my gri gri is a Rock Exotica Pirate manulock biner. It is just like a auto locker but you can lock it in the open state. I never use autolocking biners cause they are a PITA when you are removing them from the back of your harness and then attach it to your belay loop then to the rope. Sometimes you have to unlock the gate all three times before you are ready to belay or rap. With the manulock it is always ulocked, then when your device is set you just push the auto lock up and it twists and locks. Simple. If i see them at a gear store i am buying at least 4 more. Best belay biner evar!!!

Spend the extra buck or two and get a locker that bottoms on its thread not against the biner nose.

I thought mine bottomed out on the nose at first but bottoms out on the threads. When the screw gate siezes up the gate can still move back and forth on the nose end.

My favorite belay biner that i use for my gri gri is a Rock Exotica Pirate manulock biner. It is just like a auto locker but you can lock it in the open state. I never use autolocking biners cause they are a PITA when you are removing them from the back of your harness and then attach it to your belay loop then to the rope. Sometimes you have to unlock the gate all three times before you are ready to belay or rap. With the manulock it is always ulocked, then when your device is set you just push the auto lock up and it twists and locks. Simple. If i see them at a gear store i am buying at least 4 more. Best belay biner evar!!!

if it's a minor problem, you could release it with a little working by the fingers.

if it cannot be freed that way ... toss it. I'm tough on BAD GEAR. it's toast. I've got no time for gear that is badly designed or manufactured. bad gear will slow you down in the mountains, and in a crunch it might kill you.

good gear works well and works easily. ONLY carry good gear. this doesn't just apply to climbing - it applies to all areas of life where human life is at risk and results count.

This constantly happens on my tiny madrock locker. I don't even have to lock it all the way for it to decide that it doesn't want to unlock.

I should probably apply some cam lube, but I never think to take the biner out of my gear when I get home.

My solution has been to avoid using it to anchor myself in at belay stations.

I also recently purchased a nut tool that has a knife attachment. One day I may find myself needing to use it for something or another. Although, I do hope it's not because I was stupid enough to use my madrock locker at a belay station!